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The celebration
of Corpus Christi used to be celebrated in the whole country, but the
Fiesta is most impressive in Cusco. Fifteen saints and virgins, organized
in several processions, arrive from different places to the cathedral
of Cusco where to came to “greet” the body of Christ, sixty
days after Eastern Sunday. During the day you can hear the sounds of
the María Angola, the biggest Church Bell of Peru, built during
XVI century by Diego Arias de la Cerda. The night before the main day
twelve tipical dishes are prepared and consumed, including cuy chiriuchu),
beer, chichi (tipical local beer)
and bread.
The procession on the main day takes places at around 11:00am.
The Plaza de Armas will be crowded with people that came to see the
saints.
After the procession, the saints go back to the cathedral and the representatives
of the local communities come together and discuss local problems.
After
seven days (el octavo), the saints participate in the procession again
before going back to their places where they will remain for
the rest of the year. Corpus Christi is a very colourful and traditional
ceremony. For the foreign visitors an excellent opportunity to taste
Peruvian traditional culture real close.
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